I know you all know what the weather forecast is for the week and there is nothing new. Keep praying, and praying.People having birthdays next week are Dorris Ann Pierson on the 11th, John Ceynowa on the 12th and Susan Ceynowa on the 18th. Have a really great special day.Kathy Jordan was in San Diego celebrating Lincoln’s and Josh’s birthdays. She is back home by now.Special prayers were offered for the families of the 22 Navy personnel that died in the helicopter crash. Others in our prayers are the 30,000 children that died in Somalia last month. Marge Boyd had surgery on her knee on Monday and should be home on Thursday. Pray for Charlie Morris of Castell, Johnita Bohmfalk in the nursing home in Llano and Vicki Krcha’s friend Kathy. The Men’s Choir sang “Christ Will Come Again” for our special music. And it is always special when Maria Mutis plays her violin. Thanks fellows for the beautiful hymn.The Old Testament lesson was from Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28. This is the account of Joseph, the youngest son of Israel whom he loved more than his other sons and he made for him a coat of “many colors” that was very distinctive. His brothers hated him because he was his father’s favorite. While the brothers were tending the sheep away from home, Israel called to Joseph and sent him to find his brothers, see how they were and report back to him. Joseph found his brothers and they recognized his coat from afar and conspired to kill him. They decided not to kill him and they took his coat and threw him in a pit. They eventually sold him to some traveling merchants for twenty pieces of silver and he was taken to Egypt.The Bible helps us to understand the Word of God. It teaches us how to view the world – to see how God helps us. The story of Joseph is a story of envy. The commandments tell us to not covet our neighbor’s possessions. Envy is only possible when we limit God’s grace. The Gospel scripture from Matthew 14:22-33 is the story of Jesus walking on the water. After feeding the great number of people, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of Him across the sea. He sent the crowd away and went up into the hills to pray. In the evening, He was alone on the shore while the disciples’ boat was being tossed about by the wind and waves. In the early morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were afraid and screamed out with fright. Jesus said to them “Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid!” Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. Jesus said “Come!” and Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But he became frightened by the wind and he began to sink. He cried to Jesus “Save me from death!” Jesus immediately reached out and caught him and said “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” The wind ceased when they go into the boat and they worshiped Him. Truly, He is the Son of God!Peter learned both of his weakness and the power of God. We have to step out of the boat and follow Jesus. Faith comes through obedience. God is faithful and will calm our storms. We sink in wind and water; we are safe in the boat. Water or the sea represents evil or opposition to God. In Rev. 21, in the new world, there will be no more sea meaning that there will be no more evil. The disciples were safe in the boat; God is in the boat; the boat represents the church. The church is like a boat that is upside down. We are safe in the boat. God conquered evil by walking on the water. Jesus is the answer for everything in the world that is evil and wrong.

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